18 June 2013 The Heart of Jesus submits to Mary and Joseph “And he was obedient to them.” (Lk 2:51) These words contain the whole life of Jesus Christ during the thirty years he spent with Mary his Mother, and Joseph his foster father. But what is this? A God subject to two creatures? Is this not inconsistent with the sovereign dominion of God over all creation? No; because the obedience of Jesus is really given to God his Father, represented to him by Mary and Joseph. The true model of obedience, the obedience of faith. Submission to God in the persons of who represent him to us, and of whom he said: “Whoever listens to you listens to me.” (Lk 10:16) To obey thus is to have the same will with God. Is it in this spirit that we obey our directors despite their personal qualifications? If so, our obedience, as far as is possible, will be perfect like that of our Lord: prompt, generous, unlimited, and full of merit before God. Ref: Cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp325-6 The Heart of Jesus submits to all kinds of persons On the same principle, Jesus obeyed and submitted to even the most wicked men, and those whose hypocrisy he had proclaimed to the people. Caiphas, as high priest, adjured him to say if he were the Son of God or not. Immediately, Jesus breaks his silence and answers him fully. He submitted even to the heathen, Pontius Pilate, by accepting the sentence without a word. He even obeyed his executioners when they ordered him to stretch out his arms on the cross: immediately, with heart and will. Thus, as St Paul says, he became “obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Phil 2:18). It is his love for us, and for our instruction and encouragement, that Jesus gave these examples of obedience. With Jesus on the cross before our eyes, no act of obedience will seem too hard for us. Ref: Cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp326 Meekness of the Heart of Jesus ‘Manifested in His Whole Person’ Meekness is the most universally loved and appreciated of all human qualities. A gentle, kindhearted man is easily known then loved. Everyone feels drawn to him and desires his friendship. What a marvellous attraction, then, must the sweet Heart of Jesus have for men! We read in the Gospels that as many as four-thousand once followed him for three days without having any food. So great was the charm which his gentleness and meekness exuded around him. Does our meekness come close to that of our Lord? Let us judge it by its fruits. Do we enjoy the sympathy and confidence of our colleagues? Do they seek our company gladly, especially in times of trouble? Or are they aloof from us, afraid of being contradicted? Ref: Cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, p327 The Heart of Jesus ‘The meekness of His words’ Every page of the Gospels bears witness to this trait. “I am the good Shepherd. The good Shepherd gives his life for his sheep.” (Jn 10:11) Again: “Jerusalem, Jerusalem! ... How often would I have gathered your children, yet you refused.” (Mt 23:37) And to Judas in his very act of betrayal: “Friend, do what you came for.” (Mt 26:50) “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?” (Lk 22:48) Above all, he prayed on the cross: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Lk 23:34) If ‘from the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks’ (Lk 6:46; Mt 12:34), how do our hearts compare with our Saviour’s? We are so harsh in judging others or exaggerate their faults. Jesus answers with such meekness when unjustly accused. And we react with sarcasm when told of our real faults. Jesus finds an excuse for his executioners. We are angry even if the perceived hurt is justified. Ref: Cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp327-8 Meekness of the Heart of Jesus ‘Manifested in the sacrifice of His life’ Jesus is innocence itself. He had no sins to expiate. Therefore, he had a full right to enjoy all pleasures of this life. Nevertheless, he made a generous sacrifice of them, passing his whole life subject to most severe sufferings both of body and soul, as no one had ever endured. The most generous sacrifice one man can make for another is, in our Lord’s words, the sacrifice of his life: to die to save another from death. This, then, is what Jesus has done for each one of us. We can all say with St Paul, ‘He loved me, and delivered himself for me’. Is this great proof of the love of Jesus ever present in our minds? Does it excite us to gratitude? Does this gratitude appear in works, in a readiness to make sacrifices? Or do we unwittingly evade such chances? Our hearts are far from the adorable Heart of Jesus. Ref: Cf “Practical Meditations” by a Father of the Society of Jesus, 1964, pp330-31 • Apparition of Our Lady to St Agnes of “Monte Pulciano”, with whom, it is said, she left a small cross which is still shown with great solemnity on the 1st of May. — Chronicle of St. Dominic, part. i, lib. i, c. 72. (“Catholic Gems or Treasures of the Church” Historical Calendar; www.bethlehemobserver.com) • Apparition of Our Lady to St. Agnes of Mount Pulciano, Italy. (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html) (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html); (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.htm); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm) • Our Lady of Mount Pulciano. (http://mariedenazareth.com)